CHATHAM — A retired violin teacher has been acquitted of several sexual misconduct allegations after a judge found his evidence to be credible.

Claude Eric Trachy, 72, had pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of indecent assault, sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation for alleged incidents that date as far back as the 1970s. The initial charges were laid by Chatham-Kent police in 2015.

The allegations, involving 25 complainants who were pre-teens or teens at the time, stemmed from Trachy’s practice of measuring the breast area of many female students, some with their tops off, so they could be properly fitted for a shoulder rest in order to better play the violin or viola. The court also heard Trachy took moulds of some students.

Several victims and family members dabbed tears and sat in stoney silence after hearing the verdict Monday by Superior Court Justice Thomas Carey.

Michelle Schryer, executive director of the Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, told reporters she was following the trial “closely enough to be profoundly disappointed at the decision.”

She added the decision is “another clear piece of evidence about why the #MeToo movement has come to be and why it’s important, because . . . giving voice to experience is sometimes the only modicum of justice and victory that a woman can have.”

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Throughout the trial, Trachy’s lawyer Ken Marley maintained his client’s actions were clinical in nature, as opposed to sexual, in order to help students better play the instrument.

Reading his decision, Carey said, “I accept Mr. Trachy’s evidence that any touching of his female students was not done for any sexual purpose and that his intentions were to help his female students play better.”

Carey noted the students were told they were going to be measured and what it would entail, adding it was done in private and discreetly.

The judge also stated the students didn’t complain at the time, because they accepted from their teacher that the measuring was necessary.

He added Trachy made “no inappropriate comments” and the touching of the students was “minimal” to get the necessary measurements.

However, many complainants testified during the trial to feeling embarrassed, uncomfortable and confused by the measurements.

Carey may have provided an indication of what the verdict would be on Feb. 16, when he denied a Crown motion for similar-fact evidence. At that time, the judge indicated his decision would be based on whether Trachy touched his former students for legitimate or sexual purposes.

Carey noted in delivering his decision, the fact the Crown did not call any evidence regarding a 1993 conviction against Trachy on similar charges or the reasons for the judge’s findings in that case.

The conviction was pardoned in 2005.

Carey said he found most of the former students who testified were largely intelligent, independent women who have been successful in life and their careers.

He rejected the evidence of one complainant that Trachy touched her inappropriately, but accepted that she threatened Trachy’s daughter and tried to extort money from Trachy.

Trachy’s lawyer Ken Marley touched on two details of the judge’s decision.

“First of all, he applied the law, which has been given to us by the Supreme Court of Canada that in cases like this, you really have to look at the context in which the touching took place in order to discern or determine whether there was a sexual motivation or sexual intent,” he said.

What was most important about the decision, Marley believes is the judge “accepted Mr. Trachy’s evidence.”

He said there are many ways a judge can acquit somebody, but he noted Carey accepted Trachy’s evidence that the touching was not for a sexual purpose.

“That’s a vindication of Mr. Trachy and his family and his approach to teaching that he took back in that time,” Marley added.

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